If President Polk expanded the nation’s presence on the North American continent, it was Millard Fillmore who brought the United States once more to the center stage of domestic and economic foreign policy. In 1852, under Fillmore’s orders, Commodore Matthew Perry led an expedition to the Empire of Japan and opened trade communications with the Imperial government.

A committed Unitarian, President Fillmore spent much of his life celebrating and advocating for religious tolerance, pluralism, and anti-bias. While debating New York Governor William Seward, he fought hard for the separation of church and state through disavowing government support of sectarian schools like Catholic parochial schools. Millard Fillmore ardently believed that no public funds should support religious institutions.

Listen to a Podcast on Unitarianism and the American Presidency.